Chapter Text
“Yo, Penis!” Peter hears Flash’s shout down the hallway, but he ignores him. He's not letting Flash ruin his good day.
In their shared Chemistry class last period, they were given information about the upcoming Science Fair. Peter can't wait to get started on his project. He's hoping Tony will help when he shows him the flyer. They work on his suit sometimes, so working on this shouldn't be any different.
Ned flanks his side as they stop by their lockers. “Hey, you wanna come to my place after school? Mom’s making Chicken Afritada.”
Peter’s mouth waters at the thought of a delicious home cooked meal from the Leeds home. Ned’s mother is a great cook and she makes a traditional Filipino meal at least once a month. Peter is always invited to the family dinner.
“I'd love to, Ned, but I was going to stop by Mr. Stark’s and talk to him about something,” Peter says as he opens his locker.
Ned looks over at him with an excited smile. “Are you gonna ask him about the science fair? Because that would be so freaking cool to have Tony Stark help you with your project! Hey, do you think Bruce Banner could help me with mine? That would be even cooler because then we both have an Avenger buddy. And when one of us wins, Flash will be so pissed off.”
Peter loves his best friend, but sometimes he just doesn't know when to shush. “Quiet, Ned. And no, Mr. Stark hasn't heard from Dr. Banner since Sokovia.”
“Oh,” Ned only deflates for a second before getting excited again. “That's okay. I'm not really all that good with science anyway; that's your thing. But when the technology fair comes around, I'm gonna wipe the floor with everyone.”
Peter laughs. He wishes he could have self confidence like Ned does. “I believe you, buddy.”
“I better get an invite to your science fair because I want to be there to see the look on Flash’s face when you beat him. Again.”
Before Peter can respond, someone is slamming his locker shut and if he didn't have his spidey reflexes, one of his fingers would have gotten caught. He turns to glare at Flash. The boy is snarling down at him like Peter is his actual prey. “Don't get so excited, boys. You won last year because of a technicality. Don't expect it to happen again.”
“I beat you fair and square last year, Flash. You were just a sore loser about it,” Peter argues.
“Just don't expect it to happen again, Penis,” Flash scowls before storming away.
Ned shouts at his retreating back, “His name is Peter!”
Peter places a hand on his shoulder. “It's okay, Ned.”
“It's not okay, Peter. You shouldn't let him talk to you like that.” Ned shakes his head with a frown. He’s always on Peter’s back to stand up for himself and tell Flash off.
“Just one more year of him. It'll be fine.” Peter thinks about that every time Flash starts giving him trouble. Peter is only a junior, but Flash is a senior. Flash knows this too and likes to kick his bullying up a notch... or 10.
Ned sighs and drops the conversation that has been going on since middle school. “Well, if you can tonight, dinner is served at 7:30. Call me if you're coming.”
Peter smiles. He knows May will be at work all night, like she is every weeknight and even some weekends. She works hard so she can keep a roof over their head and food on the table and even a little extra so she can spend some money on Peter, but sometimes he wishes she wasn't always working.
“If I can get to Mr. Stark’s tower now I should be able to make it to your place for dinner.” Peter shuts his locker and gets ready to leave this place already.
“Awesome!” Ned smiles widely back at him. “I'll tell my mom to set an extra plate.”
“Can't wait. See you tonight,” Peter says as he lifts his hand to start their handshake.
“See you tonight,” Ned confirms as they finish the handshake.
They don't get the weird looks in the hallway anymore. If you are a student at Midtown Science and Technology, then you know Ned and Peter are best friends and the handshake is a common occurrence.
After saying goodbye to Ned, Peter books it down the hallway. There's no car waiting for him today since it's an unscheduled visit, but he's got enough change from lunch to get him a subway ticket halfway to the tower and then he could walk the rest. Hopefully, Happy won't mind giving him a ride home.
He’s sure nothing can ruin his mood. Not Flash, not the crowded subway car, not the 30 minute walk, not the taxi that almost runs him over. It's going to be a great night. He has Tony to see and then he's going to Ned’s house for dinner.
Nothing can take this smile off of his face.
“Good afternoon, FRIDAY,” Peter calls up to the ceiling when he walks in.
“Good afternoon, Peter. How are you?” Her voice comes back and her gentle tone brings a smile to his face.
“I'm great. Is Mr. Stark in his lab? I have a quick question for him.” Peter is already heading towards the elevator.
“Yes, he is. Would you like me to get him?”
“Nah, I'll go up there myself. Thanks though.” He enters the elevator and FRIDAY activates the floor number of Tony’s lab. It's one of the floors that only Tony has access to and Peter always gets excited when he remembers that Tony opened the access for him too.
The elevator is fast, so fast that he barely gets to hear the ACDC song playing over the speakers softly. He had never given their music a chance until he started working side by side with Tony in his lab. Now he owns albums by ACDC, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin on his phone. They clash with all of his Broadway albums, but Peter doesn’t mind.
The doors open and Peter takes a step inside the workshop. His smile disappears when he sees someone sitting at his spot. Peter goes still. Why is someone sitting in his spot?
Tony is over the guy's shoulder, helping him wire something. He looks up and glances over his shoulder when he notices Peter is standing there. “Hey, Pete.”
Peter doesn't say hi back; he continues to stare at the kid sitting in his spot.
His silence doesn't deter Tony; he pats the boy on the shoulder and he looks up finally. His green eyes meet Peter’s and he frowns. Tony pulls him up anyway. “Come here, Peter. I want you to meet Harley.”
Harley crosses his arms over his chest and doesn't say a word either.
Tony falters, looking between the two. “Uh…”
“How do you know Tony?” Peter asks. Saying his first name feels weird on his tongue.
“Tony?” Tony repeats incredulously as he stares at Peter.
“I helped him a few years ago.” Harley raises an eyebrow. “How do you know him?”
“I'm his intern.”
Harley laughs. “That's funny. I'm his intern.”
Peter blinks. This must be a joke. He looks over at Tony, but Tony’s smile is gone. He looks surprised. “Uh, Harley is interning for me for a few weeks. He needs it for college.”
“He's in my spot,” Peter says and he feels childish when he does.
“I'm sorry. I didn't see a name on the table or chair.” Harley shrugs his shoulders.
Peter doesn't know if he's more mad at Tony for giving his seat away or more mad at Harley for being such a dick about it.
“I didn't know you were coming,” Peter says when he faces Harley again.
“I didn't know you existed.”
“Hey, come on, guys. Let's play nice.” Tony smiles weakly. Peter and Harley glare at each other and do nothing else. Tony mutters under his breath.
“Hey, kiddo, why don't you go get yourself another juice box while the grown-ups finish their work?”
Peter loves when Tony calls him kiddo. But it makes Peter angry to hear it come from a kid, only a year or two older than him. “I have my own work to do.”
“That's cute. What are you working on? A self-changing diaper?” Harley grins.
Tony laughs even though he tries to hold it back.
“That's none of your business.” Peter refuses to look either of them in the eyes. “Can I sit at my work spot or is that not allowed?”
Tony’s response is hesitant. “Harley’s got his stuff all over your table. Do you mind temporarily moving? I wasn't expecting you today or else I would have kept it clean.”
There's no reason for him to be angry at Tony, but he's furious at him. He hates it. “Where should I sit then?”
Tony glances around at the lab. He and Peter always have it in a mess, but to them it's perfect because they know where everything is. They've developed a rhythm in the workshop. He comes up to a small table in the corner. “Hey, DUM-E, clean that off for Peter.”
DUM-E obeys and starts to brush all papers and tools to the floor. Tony groans, but doesn't complain. Peter stalks over to the spot and throws his backpack to the ground. DUM-E beeps quietly and rubs his head against Peter’s arm. Peter comforts him back.
He loves Tony’s bots. They try their best even when Tony punishes them, Peter can't help but make them feel better. They cling to Peter and when he walks into the workshop, they whir excitedly and roll over to him immediately. Even if they're in the middle of helping Tony with a project.
“Hey, buddy,” Peter says softly. He strokes DUM-E’s head. He has always seen the bots as the closest things to siblings he’ll ever get. He always wanted a sibling or two. It got boring growing up without a playmate. Ned is a great friend, but at the end of the day they go back to their own families. Peter wanted someone to understand what he went through as a child. He wanted someone by his side when his parents died and he was dropped off with his aunt and uncle.
But now as he watches Tony help Harley with his stupid project, he thinks he is better off without an older brother.
Peter doesn't even have anything to work on. His current project in the lab is Spider-Man related, so Peter can't just whip out the suit in front of Harley. He has some homework, but the only thing he really needed in here was Tony. He wanted him to help with his project, but now he doesn't want to mention the idea in front of Harley.
He pulls out his math textbook to get some homework done. Pre-calc comes easy to him, like most subjects, but he can't concentrate. He rewrites the same log 3 times and solves it 5 different ways. How is that even possible?
Laughter keeps pulling his attention away from his paper. Tony is working close to Harley and is smiling at what he says. It's louder than necessary, but Peter knows it's because he wants Peter to know.
Peter stays in that spot for who knows how long. He wishes he could leave because it's torture to sit here, but he can't let Harley win.
He barely finishes his math homework. He knew this information earlier, but now it all escapes him. He writes down a combination of letters and numbers so it looks like he attempted something. His teacher will surely understand if he has an off day.
English homework is next; he needs to read a chapter from A Tale of Two Cities and analyze it. He pulls out his worn copy and opens to the page he dog-eared. He can't focus on the book at all. He usually has trouble with English just because it's not based on facts. He's good with facts and definite answers. His teacher tells him there's no wrong answer when it comes to analyzing a book. Peter disagrees. There has to be a wrong answer.
But that makes him feel even worse because he doesn't even have a wrong answer to write down.
He knows this shouldn't bother him. Tony is allowed to spend time with other people. Other very intelligent teenage boys. He can't dib the man. Tony probably doesn't even understand. He's Tony Stark; he can go find anyone to work side by side with. He doesn't need Peter. He's showing that right now with Harley.
Peter is the one that needs him. He clings to Tony because he's the only constant male adult in his life. It's crazy and ridiculous for Peter to believe Tony can be that person for him. He has more important things to do. Like work with real interns.
Harley is probably smarter than him. He's probably better. That's why Tony wants him to be his intern.
Peter flips a page he didn't even read so roughly that it rips. He's glad it's only the school’s copy. If Michelle saw the condition it was in, she'd flip.
He's so distracted by his thoughts and Harley and not focusing on schoolwork that he jumps when his phone starts to ring. His face burns red as he rushes to answer it. Ned’s embarrassing ringtone breaks the silence of the lab.
“Hello?” Peter says, knowing Harley’s eyes are on him.
“Pete, where are you?” Ned’s voice comes back.
“What?” Peter asks in confusion.
“Dinner?”
Oh, shit. Dinner. Peter promised to meet Ned for dinner. He checks the time and sees it's already almost 7:40. “I can be there in like 20 minutes. If you can wait. But if it's gonna get cold, then just go ahead.”
“ Mom just put the dinner in. It won't be finished until 8; you have some time.”
Peter is relieved. He would have hated to cancel on Ned. He never would have heard the end of it from Ned’s mom.
“I'll be there soon,” Peter assures him before hanging up the phone. He rushes to shove all of the books back in his backpack.
He turns to Harley and Tony as he pulls the backpack onto his back. “I have to go. Filipino Night.”
Harley looks at him strangely, but Tony smiles at him. “Tell Ned I said hi.”
Peter smiles for the first time since getting there. “I will, Mr. Stark.” His eyes flick to Harley before he turns back to Tony. “I'll be by tomorrow,” he says, more of a question than statement.
“The door’s always open, Pete.” Before turning back to his work, he says, “Tell Happy to give you a ride.”
“Thank you.” He pulls on his straps as he hesitates by the doorway. He wants to bring up the science fair, but not in front of Harley. Not after his horrible day. He'd wait until he was happy again and could get excited again.
“Bye, Mr. Stark,” Peter says as he starts to walk out. Tony is too busy looking at whatever Harley is holding to answer him back. Peter’s smile disappears.
“Goodbye, Peter,” FRIDAY answers instead.
“Bye, FRIDAY,” Peter mumbles. Yup. Horrible day.
”It's just weird,” Peter says as he hands a now clean dish to Ned. Ned starts to dry it off.
“I can only imagine. Dad suddenly having a new kid can be very unsettling.”
Peter glares over at Ned and restrains from whipping him with the wet dishcloth. “I'm being serious, Ned.”
“And so am I,” Ned insists. “You've got a serious case of Only Child Syndrome. And I can say that because a) I'm an only child too and b) I'm your best friend.”
“Only Child Syndrome?” Peter echoes with a quirked eyebrow.
“Yes. You're used to being the only one that gets the attention, but now you have to share it,” Ned explains. “You don't react to that well.”
“I'm not some Chemistry equation, Ned. I don't react well because Harley is a dick.”
“He's dealing with OCS too.”
“I don't even know who he is! Mr. Stark has never mentioned him and he's never been caught by the paparazzi.” Peter finishes the last dish before shutting off the water.
“Well, we can't all be TMZ eye candy, Mr. Intern.”
“That was one time. And they didn't really see my face,” Peter defends with flushed cheeks.
Ned smirks, not taking this conversation seriously. “That's a plus. Don't really need Flash on your ass about having a sugar daddy or being the illegitimate son of a famous superhero billionaire.”
“He's not my sugar daddy, Edward.” Peter adds on after a second of hesitation, “Or my father.”
Ned sputters out a laugh. “So who bought you that laptop? And the new Stark phone?”
“I'm going to kill you,” Peter promises as he jumps on Ned’s back to try and drag him to the floor. He wraps his arms around his neck and his legs around his stomach. Ned is still laughing so hard he can't get a word out. “Take it back and maybe I'll spare your life,” he says with a smile on his own face.
Before Ned can say anything, a new voice in the kitchen interrupts him. “Please, do your worst. Maybe I'll have less dirty clothes around my house.” Ned’s dad watches the two with a grin.
Ned’s mom follows in behind. “Ah ah, there will be no killing in my kitchen. Especially not my baby.” She pinches Ned’s cheek and he can't swat her hand away because he's holding onto Peter. Peter chuckles, causing her to turn her attention to him and pinches his cheek. “I won't even tolerate it from my other baby.”
It's Peter’s turn to blush. “Yes, mom,” he says in a sing-song voice.
She runs her fingers through his hair and his smile softens. “Good boy.”
Peter looks down at Ned from his spot on his back as he laughs some more at him.
Maybe it wasn't so bad having a brother.